Mid-Century Modern Style Thrives at Duralee
Debbe Daley at 2 years in 1964
Who would have thought that the sleek and slim mid-century modern furniture I grew up with would be here to stay? That red and white button tufted Naugahyde sofa with a red accent chair and a sleek tapered leg my parents had in their living room when I was a child is back and covered in some fantastically fabulous fabrics. That was 1964, when I was two years old. A time now defined as the height of mid-century modern design.
Mid-Century Modern Fabric and Furniture At The Boston Design Center
While at the Boston Design Center this week, I received a phone call from Duralee Fabrics showroom manager Gary Fisher. When Gary calls, you know there’s something good brewing. In this case, it was mid-century modern fabrics and furniture. Dashing up to the 4th floor, Gary was anxiously waiting to give me a private showing of all that’s new and hip in furniture. To begin, front and center were metal base bar stools. Metals are hot right now in design, and their Z-like base provides a modern style element. Dark blue and teal were featured in the bar stool cushions and provided a contemporary look. Next, Gary was excited to pull swatches of fabrics for new showroom vignettes that were not traditional, but I loved it all for this traditional-style girl.
Duralee Showroom Manager, Gary Fisher with Renee Julian, Showroom Fabric Representative
The first feature was inspired by teal wallcovering already installed on the showroom display wall. Using this paper, an olive color fabric called forest in a rich velvet was chosen for upholstery on Duralee’s Sutton box back sofa with bench cushion. Their midcentury modern exposed wood lounge chairs called the Holloway would be paired with this grouping and upholstered in Highland Court fabric called Sabine in colorway Black/Beige, more of an Aztec pattern with the content of cotton, linen, wool, and viscose. What was exciting about this grouping was not only the style of furnishings but the accent pillows. Duralee’s lulu dK butterfly pattern in colorway olive and gold would be embellished with black brush fringe. A solid teal pillow and another lulu dk gold pattern fabric would also sit on the sofa. The striking element of this vignette is the fabric choice for the showroom’s display window. Clarke-Clarke’s Myla pattern in color Hemp would be used for drapes framing this fantastic midcentury modern display.
Gary was excited to share another grouping as we played with swatches of fabric on the showroom’s floor. Loving this combination also was a mix of all colors leaning towards a pink and gray colorway with pops of unconventionally designed fabrics. The sofa would be upholstered in a combination of two fabrics. Being creative, Baily & Griffin’s Chippendale braid fabric has a large geometric stripe design and would be embellished with their Dogges pattern in color Amethyst which twinkled with a blush-like shimmer. This grouping would be combined with a pair of herringbone patterned chairs with button-tufted backs. Pillows here would shock anyone. Highland Court’s Bellatrix in eggplant color resembled paint-splattering fun. Another velvet pillow in Chatoyant Raspberry and a gold metallic was used. Lastly, a Studio JF Fabrics skull-patterned pillow in gray and white lends a bit of a shock factor to this grouping.
Duralee’s Mid-Century Style Furniture is Not Your Mother’s Sofa
Robert Allen and Duralee merged in 2017. They have combined their strength and innovation to move forward into the future. We are now one of the largest companies in the industry with great energy and potential for success.
About Debbe Daley
Debbe Daley is New England’s leading interior design expert in the design, decorating, and styling of interior spaces. She is a professional speaker, educator, writer, and influencer in the field of interiors. Debbe also educates on the art of interior design to home decor enthusiasts and change-of-career-minded individuals at her School of Interiors through courses, mentoring, and hands-on training. Debbe is formally an installed Design Services member for the Boston Design Center and is still active with the BDC community. She is also a professor at Middlesex Community College in interior design.
Contact Debbe at ddaley@daleydesigns.com or (978) 697-0288.
